Tucked in the prime location between "Seinfeld," at 8 p.m., and "ER," at 9 p.m., the new sitcom is guaranteed an audience at first, and all it has to do to keep them around is not offend. That's how "Caroline in the City" did it last year.

"ER" was last year's top-rated show, and "Seinfeld" was second.

"The worst thing you can do is to do a good show that's in a position that people don't even sample it," said "Susan" executive producer Steven Peterman. "That happened to some CBS shows last year. We are given every opportunity to succeed here."

Peterman and partner Gary Dontzig were lucky enough to inherit this spot. "Susan" went through a creator and another set of executive producers before this team was brought in to revamp the show. The first group is the one that wangled the spot.

The fortune of separating "Seinfeld" and "ER" is not lost on Peterman.

"I know there is enormous maneuvering and politicking and favor-granting and withholding to get a show the best possible spot," Peterman said.

"We know we will get certain ratings at the beginning because of where we are."

But the stakes are high in the coveted spot.

"Madman of the People," which occupied the spot two years ago, was the 12th-highest-rated show during the 1994-95 season, but that wasn't enough to save a spot on the lineup.

"I think anybody who looked at that show knows it didn't fit," Peterman said. "There is a feeling to Thursday night--that it's more urban and sophisticated. I think you can afford to go for some smarter jokes. You know the audience you are going to be inheriting."

Peterman acknowledged that the additional pressure for success makes his time period a curse as well as a blessing. But television, no matter where you're placed, is a high-stakes game.

"You struggle to get a show sold," he said. "You struggle to get it made, and then they schedule you Sunday night opposite `60 Minutes.' "